Guest blog post by Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Secretary, Department of Commerce

Recent
events have reaffirmed just how extraordinary this period is for the Middle
East and North Africa (MENA). The Arab
Spring has generated a lot of hope for people across the region. However, it’s also presented a number of
questions that need to be answered, many of which center around economic issues
like unemployment and slow growth.

As
the World Economic Forum (WEF) put it, “Recent shifts in the Arab world, coupled with an economic
contraction at the global level, have created renewed urgency for
decision-makers across the region to address the unfolding economic situation.”

So,
it’s fitting that, this past weekend, King Abdullah of Jordan hosted a WEF event
to address job creation. World leaders gathered
to discuss pressing issues including the advancement of youth and women, the
impact of social media, and, of course, U.S.-Arab relations.